Factors Associated with Platelet Activation-Recent Pharmaceutical Approaches

Platelets are at the forefront of human health and disease following the advances in their research presented in past decades. Platelet activation, their most crucial function, although beneficial in the case of vascular injury, may represent the initial step for thrombotic complications characterizing various pathologic states, primarily atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases. In this review, we initially summarize the structural and functional characteristics of platelets. Next, we focus on the process of platelet activation and its associated factors, indicating the potential molecular mechanisms involving inflammation, endothelial dysfunction, and miRs. Finally, an overview of the available antiplatelet agents is being portrayed, together with agents possessing off-set platelet-inhibitory actions, while an extensive presentation of drugs under investigation is being given.     

Spiritual struggle related to plasma interleukin-6 prior to cardiac surgery.

Spiritual struggle appeared consistently to predict poor health outcomes, including mortality. Despite surging interest in the health benefits of religion and spirituality, the health hassle of existential conflicts and proinflammatory cytokines as a potential physiological mechanism has been overlooked. Based on psychological and theological assumptions, we argue for the universal nature of spiritual struggle, a crisis-related existential conflict, and for investigating its physiological influence as essential to understanding human nature. Increased levels of inflammatory cytokines such as interleukin-6 (IL-6) have been linked with adverse health outcomes and negative emotions. This study thus examined spiritual struggle related to plasma IL-6 in 235 adult patients undergoing cardiac surgery, along with positive religious coping, general coping, and optimism, controlling for standardized clinical medical indicators. Multiple regression analysis, following a preplanned sequence, showed that spiritual struggle (p = .011), behavioral coping (p = .013) were positively associated with excess plasma IL-6, controlling for medical correlates (e.g., left ventricular ejection fraction). We conclude that spiritual struggle, indicating the crisis in an existential relation, and behavioral coping strategies are associated with elevated pre-operative plasma IL-6. The interdisciplinary implications are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Impact of chronic fluorosis on left ventricular diastolic and global functions

Sixty three patients with endemic fluorosis (36 males/27 females; mean age 33.9 ± 8.6 years) and 45 age, sex and body mass index (BMI) matched healthy controls (30 males/15 females; mean age 32.7 ± 8.8 years) were included in this study. Basic echocardiographic measurements, left ventricular diastolic parameters and left ventricular myocardial performance index (MPI) were measured. The left ventricular MPI was calculated as (isovolumic contraction time + isovolumic relaxation time) / aortic ejection time by Doppler. The urine fluoride levels of fluorosis patients were significantly higher than control subjects as expected (1.9 ± 0.1 mg/l vs 0.4 ± 0.1 mg/l respectively; P < 0.001). Isovolumic relaxation time (IVRT) and deceleration time (DT) were significantly higher in fluorosis patients than in controls (for IVRT 106.9 ± 15.6 ms vs 96.7 ± 12.2 ms; P < 0.001 and for DT 211.7 ± 30.7 ms vs 188.0 ± 30.0 ms; P < 0.001, respectively). MPI was significantly higher in fluorosis patients than in controls (0.62 ± 0.15 ms vs 0.49 ± 0.10 ms; P < 0.001, respectively). We have shown that chronic fluorosis patients had left ventricular diastolic and global dysfunctions.     

Silver vanadium phosphorous oxide, Ag2VO2PO4: Chimie douce preparation and resulting lithium cell electrochemistry

Recently, we have shown silver vanadium phosphorous oxide (Ag₂VO₂PO₄, SVPO) to be a promising cathode material for lithium based batteries. Whereas the first reported preparation of SVPO employed an elevated pressure, hydrothermal approach, we report herein a novel ambient pressure synthesis method to prepare SVPO, where our chimie douce preparation is readily scalable and provides material with a smaller, more consistent particle size and higher surface area relative to SVPO prepared via the hydrothermal method. Lithium electrochemical cells utilizing SVPO cathodes made by our new process show improved power capability under constant current and pulse conditions over cells containing cathode from SVPO prepared via the hydrothermal method.     

Therapist-aided exposure for women with lifelong vaginismus: A replicated single-case design.

Vaginismus is commonly described as a persistent difficulty in allowing vaginal entry of a penis or other object. Lifelong vaginismus occurs when a woman has never been able to have intercourse. A replicated single-case A-B-phase design was used to investigate the effectiveness of therapist-aided exposure for lifelong vaginismus. A baseline period (Phase A) was contrasted with exposure + follow-up (Phase B), using random switching between phases. The main outcome measure (intercourse ability) was assessed daily for 24 weeks. Ten women participated. The exposure consisted of a maximum of three 2-hr sessions during 1 week at a university hospital. The participant performed vaginal penetration exercises on herself, in the presence of a female therapist. Two follow-up sessions were scheduled over a 5-week period. Nine of the 10 participants reported having intercourse after treatment, and in 5 of the 9, intercourse was possible within the 1st week of treatment. The results remained at 1-year follow-up. Furthermore, exposure was successful in decreasing fear and negative penetration beliefs posttreatment and at 3-month and 1-year follow-ups. Therapist-aided exposure appears to be an effective treatment for lifelong vaginismus. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

心脏微电位体表检测中心的电网干扰消除

本文对自适应干扰消除技术作了理论分析。在此基础上,根据心电信号的特点,提出了一个用于心脏微电位体表检测的自适应电网干扰消除系统。临床试验表明在良好的皮肤处理和电极安装后该系统可在不影响心脏微电位的前提下将电网干扰消除到1μV数量级。因此它完全可作为昂贵的浮地技术的一种替代而用于临床。     

心普图示仪的设计

本文叙述了心脏病诊断的心音以及产生心音的因素。分析了心音波的频带宽度并介绍了心音图示仪电路设计的方法。     

Combined biochemistry and histocytochemistry as a tool to investigate Ecto-ATPase in the cardiac muscle

Ecto-ATPase (ecto-adenosine triphosphatase), a key enzyme of cardiac metabolism, is responsible for modulation of the concentration of extracellular nucleotides in the heart. We present methodology consisting of the combined use of biochemical and histocytochemical techniques to study its properties. Using samples from essentially the same preparation, we applied biochemistry and histocytochemistry to determine biochemical characteristics of ecto-ATPase and an in situ localization of its reactivity. Our results indicated that detected enzyme resists fixation, depends on divalent ions, and hydrolyzes ATP, but not AMP or ADP-beta-S. Reaction product of the enzyme activity was found confined to the extracellular surface of the plasma membrane of cardiac myocytes and endothelial cells due to the corresponding orientation of the enzyme active sites. Experiments using an inhibitor justified specificity of the reaction. When used together with molecular biological and immunocytochemical techniques, the present methodological approach should be capable of yielding important information about the actual ability of ecto-ATPase to operate.     

Cardiomyopathy associated with clozapine.

Clozapine is an atypical antipsychotic agent that is more effective than the standard neuroleptics currently used for treating refractory schizophrenia. In addition, clozapine is a drug with few extrapyramidal side effects. However, clozapine is also associated with potentially serious adverse effects, such as cardiac complications as well as agranulocytosis. Clozapine-related cardiomyopathy has not been previously reported in East Asia. This report describes a 31-year-old Korean male patient with schizophrenia who developed dilated cardiomyopathy on treatment with clozapine. The removal of clozapine caused subsequent physical improvement. However, the readministration of clozapine for managing relapse of psychosis caused a recurrence of dilated cardiomyopathy in this patient. Therefore, this is the 1st report showing that the 2nd trial of clozapine caused recurrence of cardiomyopathy associated with clozapine. Thus, this report adds important support for a causal relation between clozapine and cardiac complications. In conclusion, this report attempts to raise awareness of clozapine-related cardiomyopathy. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Relationship of proxy efficacy and reliance to home-based physical activity after cardiac rehabilitation.

Objective: To examine cardiac rehabilitation program (CRP) participants' beliefs about their interventionists (proxy efficacy and reliance), self-efficacy, and exercise behavior during transition to home-based exercise. Participants and Design: Participants were 44 (16 women and 28 men) CRP outpatients (Mage = 59.43 ± 13.53 years). The design was prospective, with proxy efficacy and reliance as well as self-efficacy being used to predict two outcomes: self-regulatory self-efficacy and home-based exercise. Results: After self-regulatory efficacy reported earlier in the program was controlled for, proxy reliance predicted later program self-regulatory efficacy for home-based exercise (adjusted R2 = .10, p = .02). Proxy efficacy for self-regulation predicted home-based exercise frequency (adjusted R2 = .18, p = .01). Greater proxy efficacy for self-regulation was associated with higher exercise frequency. Conclusion: CRP participants' beliefs in the capabilities of their exercise consultants to help them develop self-regulatory skills play a role in how much exercise they do after supervised rehabilitation. Yet, individuals who strongly rely on their interventionists to assist them in exercising report weaker self-efficacy for exercising on their own. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)